April 25, 2011

Kenny goes to New York [UPDATE]

Amid unsubstantiated reports that a coach could be fired as early as today, White Sox general manager Kenny Williams is expected to address the team’s struggles in advance of Monday night’s series opener at Yankee Stadium.

Williams has avoided talking on the record since the season started, preferring to let the team speak for itself. What the club is saying is not even close to being agreeable with the fan base, nor the expectations of management. …

“I’ve got confidence in all of them,” Williams said in regards to manager Ozzie Guillen and coaches Greg Walker and Don Cooper. Williams added that he’s aware that Walker has been a main source of scrutiny in the past when the offense has struggled.

Williams said the Sox’s hitters who have struggled during a stretch that has seen them lose 10 of their past 11, “need to lighten up, not tighten up.” He reinforced his faith in .145 slugger Adam Dunn, stating it’s tough for power hitters to maintain their timing. Dunn missed six games earlier this month because of an appendectomy.

“The coaching staff is not throwing the baseball [or] hitting the baseball, they’re doing what they’ve always done,” he said. “The first 10 games of the season people talked about how well our offense was performing—we were hitting off the charts. When it’s turned around, we have to stand up and take the heat. [Hitting coach Greg] Walk[er] is used to taking the heat and he’s been consistent over the years the way teams have rebounded offensively. [Pitching coach Don] Coop[er] has taken his share… In professional sports, fingers will be pointed your way. None of them have gotten any dumber the last couple weeks. They’re same guys and I have a lot of confidence all of them.”